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Congregations for Public Health CARES about Breast Cancer

Congregations for Public Health CARES about Breast Cancer

CPH CARES about Breast Cancer is a collaboration of the Center for the Study of Community Health and Congregations for Public Health, a non-profit of African American churches located in some of Birmingham’s oldest and poorest neighborhoods, to extend their existing cancer survivorship ministry to include specific interventions to:

raise community awareness about breast cancer screening and treatment programs for un- and under-insured women;

help identify and address barriers to screening and prompt treatment for women with breast cancer; and

provide one-on-one assistance to link patients and family caregivers to local, state, and national resources (cancer and non-cancer resources) for survivorship support.

The project is an effort to improve timely detection of breast cancer, ensure prompt beginning of breast cancer treatment, and encourage women to continue and complete recommended therapy in order to achieve optimal outcomes. Specific activities include:

presenting educational programs about breast health, cancer risks and risk reduction, and the importance of screening and early detection;

assisting individuals to access reliable and appropriate information, services, and resources to support breast cancer survivorship;

encouraging survivors to participate in existing support groups, and/or creating breast cancer support groups in the local community that meet at times and locations to maximize involvement of women who do not or are unable to meet with existing support groups.

CPH CARES about Breast Cancer is funded by the North Central Alabama Affiliate of Susan G Komen for the Cure.

CPH and Breast Cancer

Including Sing for the Cure and CPH CARES about Breast Cancer, CPH has participated in 120+ education/awareness events, reaching almost 12,000 people.

In addition to education (breast cancer risk reduction, early detection, screening, survivorship resources), events included songs of inspiration, personal stories of survivors and caregivers, encouragement from pastors, an information table and opportunity to ask questions and get referrals to screening and support services one-on-one.

67 survivors publicly identified themselves, and we collected their testimonies and stories, 22+ (so far) in writing so we can share their experiences and words of encouragement with others.

CPH linked breast cancer patients and caregivers to local education workshops and national telephone conferences, and referred eligible women to ABCCEDP.

CPH raised funds by organizing walkers to participate in Race for the Cure.

CPH identified 12+ African American breast cancer survivors who want to become Speakers for the Cure.

CPH did in-service breast cancer education events for attendees of the Alabama State Baptist Convention USA (part of the National Black Convention USA), its regional and district Conventions, and the Alabama District Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, which includes several other Southern states and California.